How much does live-in care cost?
At the point when someone requires 24/7 support due to frailty, illness, dementia or just old age, people often mistakenly think that a residential care home is the only option for their loved ones.
Live-in care is often not only a more cost-effective alternative to a care home, but one that allows your loved one to stay safe, healthy and remain independent in their own home.
Most people would choose to continue living in familiar surroundings over being placed in the sterile environment of a care home, where they find themselves in the company of many strangers they do not know.
Live-in care provides a greater sense of independence and continuity, which has been proven to improve wellbeing in the twilight years, allowing older people to remain near their friends and family, and keep up, when possible, with their daily activities, hobbies and routines.
Is live-in care the right choice for you?
There are many situations when live-in care is a better alternative to a care home:
- If your loved one has become frail and there are concerns that they might have a fall.
- When assistance is required for general tasks, such as cooking, housework, etc.
- When separating a loved one from a cherished pet will cause distress.
- When living with dementia or related illnesses – moving to a new environment such as a care home can be an incredibly stressful experience. Studies have shown that staying in familiar surroundings and maintaining regular routines have been proven to lessen the cognitive issue these individuals can face.
- Post-hospitalisation
- If your loved one’s wellbeing is based on their independence and ability to continue with social activities and hobbies.
How to determine what level of care is required
One-on-one care can provide anything from companionship or assistance around the home to an experienced, dedicated service where a carer looks after all aspects of the wellbeing of the person for whom they are caring for.
For example, people living with dementia experience many problems, both with memory and with cognition, so a more intense level of care is required for dementia care.
How much does 24-hour live-in care cost?
Live-in care costs between £600 and £1,500 per week depending on the provider. Our partner live-in care provider, Elder, for example, have a flat fee of £770 per week with a guarantee of no hidden fees.
Does my location affect the cost?
Many live-in care providers only cover specific areas of the country. This means that costs will be dependent on which companies service the place in which your loved one lives. Nationwide providers, such as Elder, offer live-in care for a flat-rate of £770 per week across the UK, whether your loved one resides in London or Inverness.
How do I find the right care live-in care solution?
There are a number of ways to find the right care solution. The first step is to understand how the specific requirements of your loved one’s condition affect your options. If they have significant health issues, such as late-stage dementia, then a nursing home or hospitalisation, may be the only solution. For less severe conditions, however, there are a few different options.
- Care agency: Using a care agency is rarely the most cost-effective option as the admin costs and commission charges all add up.
- Introduction companies: Various technology-based online dating-style services exist that will put you in direct contact with carers, but then remove themselves from the process, which can lead to problems if you want to change your carer, or have any issues.
- Managed live-in care services: Provided by specialists like Elder, this option ensures that you, and your loved one are well matched with your live-in carer, and remain deeply involved in your care experience with regular contact and a 24/7 support service should you need a replacement carer or in the case of any emergencies.
How do I decide between a care home and live-in care?
There is a broad range of care homes available and those with better ratings can be very expensive. Selling a family home is often the only way to afford a care home, which can be upsetting for all family members who often see their parents or grandparents home as a hub for get-togethers and interaction.
Live-in care is often a much more financially manageable solution. There are numerous financing options available for live-in care, such as equity release that means that those that require care remain in their own home, in their local community and near their friends. There is also the added bonus of maintaining a place where the whole family can gather to be together, rather than cramming into a cramped room for an hour in a care home.
Can I get local authority funding for live-in care?
Yes, local authority funding is another financial option which should be explored. This takes into account a combination of a person’s financial situation, and health requirements before an amount of support is offered.
Should your loved one be approved for local authority funding, there will be the option to choose between council-provided care or direct payments.
Council care can sometimes feel like the easiest solution, but when it comes to the wellbeing of your loved one, live-in care, supported by direct payments from the council, should always be considered.
The freedom for you to choose carers based on compatibility and shared interests means that you will rest more easily knowing that your loved one is being cared for by a one-on-one carer that you’ve selected yourself.
Useful Links
Local authority funding for care
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